I have spent many a day chasing the sun, with friends, especially on Chapmans peak drive, so I knew that in visiting the Tintswalo Atlantic, we were in for something special considering it was a clear sky sunny Cape Town day, but nothing could quite prepare me for this.
We ascended Chapman’s peak drive and I was sure that we had missed the turn off, but then, just as we were told, we saw the sign before “toll pay booth” and so entered the gates to Tintswalo Lodge, where we told to park the car and wait…shortly thereafter a driver pulled up behind us and graciously opened the doors for us to climb in.
Now there is something that adds to the mystery of not actually being able to see the venue that you’re going to be dining in until you are actually at the front door. Well in this case you can’t see it because it is so far below the cliff face that you don’t actually expect anything to be there, or more, you are too amazed that a place like this even exists.
After our chauffeur driven drive down a winding road we were graciously greeted by the hostess and offered warm hand towels and a Harvey Wallbanger to boot. Now if that wasn’t enough to be the perfect end to the week, then the view which we were about to experience certainly was.
I cannot begin to explain what seeing a little piece of heaven is like, but this was certainly it. I still cannot explain, you’ll have to go and see for yourself.
Now I of course had heard about Tintswalo before, my sister frequents it, often, friends have been there for weddings, and whilst part of me wished I had discovered it before, a bigger part of me felt like the timing was just right. It was as if I was meant to be there in that moment, not before, and not after.
The sun was due to set in about half an hour and so having perfect light was great to be able to photograph and see all the detail, but when dusk settles in, that’s when, in my opinion, things start to get even more beautiful, if that’s even possible at a place like this…
But put all the beauty aside, we were there to eat, and if the welcome and setting was anything to go by, I knew the food would suit. I had an opportunity to chat with the head chef, Jeantelle, before pre-dinner canapés were served, and she was lovely, all I wanted to do was ask her if I could come work in her kitchen, even if just for while, if she’d have me of course. Her warm and welcoming nature was sure to be a testament to the food we were about to eat.
We proceeded to order some bubbly, because it would simply be silly not to on a night like this and the pre-dinner canapés served were a perfect match, a cucumber and tuna roll, earthy crumbed mushroom with tomato and …and then the Zucchini and truffle soup to start…well, before I run out of descriptive words, I’ll just continue with the main proceedings.
The starters boasted a choice of either of the two following: Confit Duck linguine in a spicy tomato glaze served with soubise pecorino crisps and thyme jus OR Cured salmon carpaccio and Katafi prawn served with beetroot relish, roasted garlic smear, petit leaf salad and sesame glaze…
We had one of each, and I am not even going to bother to describe. As much I say the view alone should leave you wanting to visit, so should both of these. Both were delicate, well constructed, both full of thought and flavoursome.
Onto the main course offering, of which there was two. There was a choice between a fish and meat option. Now I do love my fish, very much, but the appeal of a Gorgonzola crusted beef fillet served with sweet potato puree’, savoury leeks, braised baby aubergine, vine tomato and cranberry jus was just too much for both of us, and so we opted for the same. I initially thought that all of these flavours and combinations were quite rich in themselves but hence, they were perfectly balanced and soft and so delicious. It was definitely the right choice, it also meant I have an excuse to go back and try the fish on another night, which, if based on this, I am sure is just as good.
There was only one thing left, well in our case two, because we decided on one of each dessert…first up a Red Velvet Swirl Brownie served with Espresso Marshmallow, Peanut butter Fudge Semi Freddo, minted salsa and Blueberry sauce and then a Pineapple and Star Anise Tart Tartin served with Orange Ice-Cream, basil Coulis and Milo Crumb. The descriptions, I think, are enough to tell you that the detail alone gone into those translated 100 percent on the palate, and they were both, quite literally do die for, I mean, when you say Red swirl brownie alone that’s enough…and yet there was so much more.
The memory of this dining experience will always be so special to me. Not only did I get to a see another piece of Cape Town, as I had not seen it before. But I got to taste it as well.
I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t been. In fact I recommend it to those who have been before too. I doubt one could ever get enough of heaven, and the Tintswalo Atlantic is surely heaven on earth.
